Voicemails for Isabelle (2026)

Voicemails for Isabelle is written and directed by Leah McKendrick, whose previous acting work included a small role in I Know What You Did Last Summer. Here she steps behind the camera with a romantic comedy that aims to balance humor and modern relationships, but the screenplay struggles under the weight of uneven characterization. Much of the dialogue comes across as forced, and the humor often leans into exaggerated "girl boss" moments that quickly become repetitive. The biggest weakness is that nearly every male character, with one exception, is written as either incompetent or one-dimensional, leaving the story feeling less like a balanced romantic comedy and more like a collection of caricatures. As a result, the central romance never develops the emotional foundation it needs.

Zoey Deutch, known for Set It Up and Zombieland: Double Tap, plays Jill and gives an energetic performance, but the screenplay works against her. The character is repeatedly described as exceptionally lovable, yet her actions and dialogue often make her difficult to connect with. Deutch does what she can with the material, but the writing emphasizes confidence over vulnerability, making it harder to invest in her personal journey.

Nick Robinson, known for Charlie Harper and Jurassic World, plays the primary love interest, Wes. Robinson delivers his lines convincingly, but the character is given very little agency. Every single anti-toxic masculine feature is on display here, he kisses another man, he's in touch with his feelings, strength with kindness and believes in collaboration over competition. Rather than feeling like an equal half of the relationship, he often exists simply to support Isabelle's story, leaving the romance feeling one-sided and underdeveloped.

Overall, Voicemails for Isabelle is a romantic comedy that struggles because of its screenplay more than its performances. While Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson are capable leads, they are held back by dialogue and characterizations that rarely feel authentic. The result is a film that never finds the emotional balance or charm needed to make its romance work. Voicemails for Isabelle has moments of potential, but its writing ultimately undermines them. Result: D-

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Colony (2026)

Colony is written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho , the director behind the cult classic Train to Busan . While Train to Busan has become the more celebrated film, Colony shows how much Yeon has improved as both a writer and a director. The story is stronger, the filmmaking feels more confident, and the way he builds the world gives the movie more substance than I expected going in. Jun Ji-hyun is the clear standout of the cast. She does a fantastic job conveying emotion through subtle movements and expressions rather than relying on exaggerated acting. That is not surprising considering she is one of South Korea's best actresses, but she still manages to make the character feel grounded and believable. She carries much of the emotional weight of the film. I did not recognize many of the other actors, and unfortunately, none of them really stood out enough to make much of an impression. That is not necessarily a knock against the cast as much as it is a testament to how much Jun ...

Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves (2023)

Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves is a fantasy epic involving a band of misfit thieves who have to save the sword coast from a powerful red wizard. Written and directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley , D&D has a ton of tropes that fans of the tabletop game will recognize and - insert ackchyually meme - there are a lot of things that don't transfer over. I heard this movie was going to emasculate men in the writing, I didn't notice it so much. There were little bits but nothing glaring like in Incredibles 2 . Daley is a well-known actor from Freaks and Geeks and later in Bones. Goldstein is better known for Spider-man: Homecoming, Game Night, and Horrible Bosses . Chris Pine suffers the need for character growth as does Justice Smith , where the female characters are pretty much stagnant throughout the film. A small exception for Sophia Lillis's character who has a minor arch. A real surprise in this film was Regé-Jean Page . I did not like him...

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is the sequel, and probably the last Shazam! movie for a while. With the reboot coming later this year, any setup this has for an end to a trilogy is up in the air. Directed by David F. Sandberg, who I loved for Lights Out . It's interesting that James Wan, known for horror took David F Sandberg under his wing and now they both direct major DC super hero movies. They should really stick to horror. Maybe I'm just biased because I love horror. Henry Gayden is back in the writing room, even though it wasn't the writing that brought people to see the first Shazam! This time I think the writing is actually worse. There are subplots that land and some that feel overly forced and politicized. Some actors didn't get enough dialogue or scenes to do much in. Some characters felt throwaway and to check a box. Grace Caroline Currey was top-billed or at least is at the top of the list for IMDB. She really carries the film for Shazam, she makes all th...

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